Your Path to College Success Begins Here

Personalized college counseling and academic planning for students and families in Marin and Sonoma County.

20+

Years in education planning

Small case loads serving

students with Right fit approach

Calm, personalized college guidance—built around who your student is

The college process can feel overwhelming. With the right support, it can become a meaningful opportunity for your student to build confidence, understand their strengths, and find a path where they will truly thrive.

Hill Educational Consulting provides individualized college counseling, academic planning, essay coaching, and application strategy for families in Marin and Sonoma Counties and beyond.

College Counselor with 20+ years experience in educational planning

Marianne brings two decades of experience in education — as a teacher, learning-support specialist, and college counselor. She understands what schools are looking for and, more importantly, what students need to show up with confidence and authenticity.

As a mother of four college graduates, including NCAA Division I recruits, she knows the family side of the journey firsthand.

She intentionally keeps her caseload small with roughly 15 seniors a year, ensuring every student receives the thoughtful, personalized guidance that truly makes a difference.

Accredited with the experience required to support your college planning journey

A Bridge Between
Parents and Students

The college process can strain the parent-student relationship. Having another trusted adult involved gives students room to take ownership while giving parents confidence that the details are handled.

Marianne serves as a bridge — supporting both sides with honesty, structure, and care. Students get the space to grow into their own advocates, and parents get a partner who keeps the big picture in focus.

"Raising children up — whether at home or through this work — is what drives me."

  • — Parent, Class of 2026

    "Marianne was an incredible guide throughout our daughter's college application journey, helping her navigate applications to more than 17 schools with confidence and care. Beyond keeping the process organized, Marianne truly helped our daughter find her voice in her essays and present her authentic self. In the end, she was accepted to the school that feels like the perfect fit, and we couldn't be more grateful for Marianne's support, insight, and encouragement along the way."

  • — Parent, Class of 2026

    "Working with Marianne gave our family strategic guidance, peace of mind, and a trusted accountability partner during a very emotional and high-pressure process. What stood out most was her ability to help our child refine her authentic story and build confidence while also preserving a healthy family dynamic throughout the college application journey."

  • — Parent, Class of 2026

    "Marianne was such a gift to our family during the college application process. She was a calm and steady presence for my daughter, my husband, and me. We felt at ease with Marianne and trusted her advice completely. While I'm happy that the college application process is behind us, I'm sad my conversations with Marianne have come to an end. She truly is the best."

  • — Parent, Class of 2026

    "Marianne was an incredibly supportive presence throughout my daughter's college application process. From the very beginning, she was approachable and warm, which immediately eased the stress my daughter was feeling about applying. She truly listened to my daughter and followed her lead in terms of the types of schools she wanted to explore, while offering gentle and important guidance along the way. So often, college counselors can add stress to an already overwhelming process, but Marianne did the opposite — she made my daughter feel supported and capable. At the same time, she maintained a strict timeline and held my daughter to high expectations, which kept the process moving forward and ultimately led to my daughter being accepted to her top choice school."

  • — Student, Class of 2026

    "Working with Marianne made the college process feel a lot less stressful and more manageable. I always felt comfortable being honest and asking questions, and I appreciated how supportive and organized everything was. It really helped me stay on track and feel confident in my decisions. I would definitely recommend working with Marianne to anyone going through the process."

  • — L.M. Class of 2022

    “Marianne is an amazing coach. Her guidance and assistance have been a great help to me throughout the whole college process as a first-generation college student. She truly cared and supported me every step of the way to make me a competitive applicant. Words can’t express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for all the help she has given me and for making the college application process so smooth.”

  • — Parent of two student ‘22, ‘24 AM

    “When it comes time to find a college for your child, anyone can tell you what colleges are looking for, rattle off stats and options, and help you with essays, budgets. The process is not just about a handful of facts. Marianne stands in a league of her own, because she truly gets to know your child and family. It is her deep passion to ensure the choices being made, and the pathways being considered are authentic and best for the whole child in order to set them up for continued success and growth.”

  • — T.B. Class of 2022

    “Marianne's invaluable guidance and support in navigating college preparation, coupled with personalized strategies, ensured clarity and direction in my pursuit of academic and personal growth. Her proactive approach fostered consistent communication and constructive feedback, empowering me to make informed decisions for my educational journey.”

Student first approach

My approach is built on genuine connection — taking the time to learn about you and your family to understand your needs, and earn your trust.

Relationship comes first

Before we build a college list or create an application plan, I take time to understand the student. I learn how they communicate, what motivates them, where they feel stuck, and what kind of support helps them do their best work.

Every student is different, so every working relationship should be different. I adapt the process to the student’s learning style, schedule, personality, and needs. When meeting in person will help a student be more productive or connected, I make that part of our work together.

Calm support with real accountability

Students deserve encouragement, patience, and space—but they also need structure. I break an overwhelming process into manageable steps, provide regular reminders, and celebrate progress along the way.

Deadlines matter, and I am honest and direct when a student is falling behind. My role is to help students move through the difficult moments, regain momentum, and discover that they are capable of doing hard things well.

The right fit over the highest ranking

A successful college search is not about chasing a top-ranked school. It is about understanding where a student will grow academically, socially, and personally.

I help students look beyond outside expectations and listen to their own values, interests, and goals. Together, we identify the environments where they can feel supported, challenged, and excited about what comes next.

Why families choose Hill Educational Consulting

20+ Years Experience

Small Caseloads

Current Knowledge

Accountability with clear goals and actionable steps

Right-Fit Focus

Student first guidance

Celebrates the wins

IECA / HECA / WACAC

Neurodiverse Support

In-Person + Virtual

Calm & Supportive Approach

Making College Guidance More Accessible

Every student deserves the knowledge and support to navigate the college process with confidence. Each year, I provide comprehensive pro bono guidance to one student through ScholarMatch, an organization serving first-generation, low-income students. I support that student from the application process through the transition to college.

I also offer discounted blocks of consulting hours to one or two families each year and am exploring group-based programs that can make college guidance accessible to even more students.

My goal isn't simply to help students get into college-it's to teach them how to advocate for themselves, make informed decisions, and independently navigate the challenges ahead. Those skills create a strong foundation for success in college and beyond.

A Clear Path Forward

Your family does not have to navigate every decision, deadline, and difficult conversation alone.

If you are looking for an experienced, compassionate partner who will listen closely, guide honestly, and help your student move forward with confidence, let’s talk.

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